Down-draft regulator



Nov. 3, 1942. s m 2,300,468

DOWN-DRAFT REGULATOR Filed July 7, 1941 Inventor 720/0 AT Jwww/v 1 @Mwm.

Attorney Patented Nev. 3, 1942 2 Claims.

This invention relates to what may be'properly termed a down-draft regulator, the object, intent and purpose of the invention being to provide means which will effectively prevent formation of downward cold currents of air to the fire through which the products of combustion are ascending or passing from the stove, furnace or similar heating appliance.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a. substantially truncated conical 10 member which may be placed either in the opening in the chimney through which the products of combustion pass from a flue pipe leading from a stove, furnace, or similar heating appliance, or may be placed in the flue, or stove pipe and which, when so positioned, will serve to compress the volume of gases or products of combustion and thus deter currents of cold air from entering the flue or stove pipe, and consequently the combustion chamber, or space above the fire, or in other words reducing the formation of a downdraft, as these currents of cold air are generally referred to.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional View through a chimney and stove pipe or flue and showing my invention as applied; the invention being also shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the truncated cone embodying the features of the present, invention.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the cone taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a stove pipe and cone embodying the features of the present invention, and associated therewith in accordance with this invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention I provide an attachment 5 in the form of a relatively short truncated cone that is hollow and preferably of sheet metal. This attachment, or cone 5 may be employed either as shown in Figure 1, or as shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that 6 designates a portion of a chimney, while 1 designates the end of a flu or stove pipe that enters the chimney 6 through a lateral opening 8 provided in the wall of the chimney.

In this form of the invention, the truncated 55 the cone 5 is fixedly secured within the opening 8.

It will thus be seen that with the use of the I cone 5, the minor or smaller end thereof'provides a small aperture through which the gases or products of combustion pass from the flue 1 into the passageway 9 of the chimney 6. Thus the volume of the products of combustion or gases passing through the minor end of the cone 5 are compressed so as to fill the comparatively small outlet thus provided by the cone and consequently prevents the currents of cold air flowing downwardly through the passageway 9 from entering the cone 5, or otherwise gaining access through the tube 1 to the combustion chamber or space above the fire in the stove or furnace from which the flue 1 leads.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is disposed vertically in the cone 5 a bafile I2.

The baffle l2, as shown, is in the form of a narrow strip of metal bent along its longitudinal median into a substantial V so as to be substantially V-shaped in cross-section, as shown in Figure 2.

The baffle I2 is disposed intermediate the ends of the cone 5, and preferably nearer to the larger or major end of the cone, with the closed end of the V facing towards the minor or smaller end of the cone, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The baffle 12 separates the cone into two restricted passages which also tends to compress the passage of air therethrough and serves to deflect such cold currents of air as possibly might enter the cone 5 through the small end thereof and by reason of its rearwardly diverging sides produces a vortex in the air behind the bafile, and to so break up such currents of air as to preclude any real formation of a down-draft. Thus by successive stages the restricted small end of the cone and the battle cooperate to reduce the volume and velocity of down-draft, which has a tendency to enter the cone, to such an extent that the outgoing draft from the furnace more easily overcomes the down-draft and prevents the downdraft reaching the furnace.

If desired, and as shown in Figure 4, the cone 5 will operate effectively if placed within the stove pipe or flue indicated in Figure 4 by the reference numeral l3. When so positioning the cone 5, preferably the cone is disposed at one extreme end of the pipe B with the major end of the cone substantially flush with the end edge of the pipe l3 and spot-welded, or otherwise permanently united therewith.

When the cone 5 is used as shown in Figure 4, the'small end of the cone provides a small aperture to compress the volume of gases passing through the pipe so as to fill this comparatively small outlet provided by the minor end of the cone, and thus prevent the currents of cold air, which hug the wall or side of the pipe l3 from passing through the end of the pipe l3 equipped with the cone 5, and consequently from entering the combustion chamber or space above the fire in the furnace or stove.

It is thought that the manner of use and advantages of an attachment of this character will be clear and appreciated by those skilled in the art without further detailed description.

It will also be understood that while I have herein illustrated and described what is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, I am fully aware that in practice minor changes may be made as desired or required without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein illustrated, described, and claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device for preventing down-drafts, and

in combination, a flue pipe, a conical member associated with the pipe at one end thereof, said conical member having its major end of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the flue pipe and its minor end of materially less diameter to provide a small aperture through which the products of combustion may escape and be thereby compressed in volume to deter currents of cold air passing beyond said conical member and consequently into the combustion chamber or space above the fire from which the flue pipe leads, and a relatively narrow baflle member extending transversely of the cone intermediate the ends of the latter and also aiding in the compressing action of the products of combustion.

2. A device for use in connection with a flue pipe for preventing down-drafts, said device being in the form of a hollow truncated cone adapted to be axially associated with the flue pipe, with the major end of the cone being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the flue pipe, and the minor end of the cone bein of materially smaller diameter and adapted to compress products of combustion passing therethrough, and a narrow bafile extending transversely of the cone interiorly thereof and intermediate the ends of the cone, being positioned nearer to the major end than the smaller end of the cone, said baflle being substantially V-shaped in cross-section and having the closed end of the V facing in the direction of the smaller end of the cone, and also aiding in the compressing action of the products of combustion.

FLOYD E. SAMMIN. 

